Pastor Zhou Songlin’s Fifth Letter from Prison Released

(Hefei, Anhui, China – December 17, 2024) Recently, the family of Pastor Zhou Songlin from Hefei Ganquan Church, who is accused of “fraud” due to his faith, released his fifth letter written in prison dated October 29, 2024, titled “Do Not Be Afraid.” He encourages church members to stand firm when persecuted and rely on God for strength during persecution.

The Struggles and Consequences of Fear

In the letter, Pastor Zhou says that if he asked the brothers and sisters whether they are afraid, most would likely answer yes. Fear prevents them from attending worship, preaching the gospel, and welcoming family members. Fear leads to distancing from the community of saints, growing cold, and falling away, following the path of Demas (2 Timothy 4:10). Fear causes people to lie, give false testimony, and even use “spiritual” language to justify themselves. He believes that people fear losing their stable and happy lives, encountering unforeseen disasters, and implicating their families, all of which cause them to worry and fear.

However, he reminds them that suffering with Christ is the destiny of Christians. Today’s Christians are walking the narrow path that saints of the past have walked. The Bible says, “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

Christ’s Peace in the Midst of Fear

He continues,

“In this prolonged spiritual battle, the most deadly thing is fear. It makes us lose the courage to fight, our hearts melt; it makes us abandon our stance in faith, losing without a fight; it makes us betray the Lord and friends, living in greater fear. If you ask me, ‘Are you afraid?’ I will honestly tell you: I have been afraid. I feared imprisonment and struggled desperately in fear. I am not entirely fearless now, as there seems to be a bottomless black hole before me.”

But he then reflects that Christ’s peace has never left him. Now, Christ’s peace still reigns in his heart. He often experiences “instant sleep” which he aspires and Christ’s words frequently come to mind, such as,

• “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6).
• “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” (Psalm 56:3-4).
• “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7).

He encourages himself and his family with the words, “Do not be afraid!” We have a responsibility to cultivate our souls, to fear God, and thus be free from fear. The Bible says,

• “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

A Call to Fearlessness and True Witness

Finally, he encourages the brothers and sisters of the church to stand up fearlessly at this moment and bear true witness:

Ganquan Church is a local, independent church in line with the spirit of the Constitution; the church’s offerings are voluntary acts of faith; the church has established pastors, elders, and other holy positions based on biblical teachings and church tradition. These actions are all legal, and the brothers and sisters need not fear.

On October 18, Pastor Zhou wrote his fourth letter from prison, stating that although he is separated from the brothers and sisters in person, his heart has never been apart from them, and they have always been his concern. He shared with them the concept of “threefold pastoring” for the church’s reference.

The Concept of “Threefold Pastoring”

First is self-pastoring. He encourages the brothers and sisters not to passively wait for others to care for them but to practice self-pastoring through reading the Bible, praying, singing hymns, spiritual reading, and meditating on Christ’s deeds.

In the current circumstances, believers should practise self-pastoring by meditating on Christ’s humble descent and sufferings. He often meditates on “Be Still, My Soul,” which brings him great comfort and encouragement. He urges everyone to turn their knowledge into “nourishment” for their souls through these practices.

Second is horizontal (or mutual) pastoring. He advises everyone not to selfishly care only for themselves. The Bible says, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.” They should care for the members of their small groups, with the mature caring for the new believers, the strong supporting the weak, and the firm helping the doubtful.

Remember the Lord’s words, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” By caring for and serving others, they will grow. Families can practice mutual pastoring well, such as reading the Bible, praying, sharing, and interceding together. This can be a voluntary and free pastoral connection. In small groups, the key is to have a heart to serve others, eyes to see others’ needs, and actions to willingly give time, energy, and wisdom. He believes mutual pastoring is not limited to each small group but can extend across groups.

Third is vertical (or hierarchical) pastoring. He says that in the church family, God has established pastors, elders, preachers, and teachers, and in small families, there are group leaders or those with pastoral gifts. They are responsible for each member of the family.

Vertical pastoring includes preaching, Bible study, systematic truth training, theological courses, etc. “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?” In the current situation, giving food at the proper time is important.

In a church composed of countless small groups, group leaders as “little shepherds” have a heavy pastoral responsibility. They need to be well-equipped and care for and pastor the members of their small groups urgently. He says the church has been preparing for this in recent years, but there is still much work to be done. May God deeply place the burden of service and pastoring in the hearts of all group leaders.

He personally believes that self-pastoring, horizontal pastoring, and vertical pastoring are equally important and none should be more valued than others. Only by adhering to the concept of “threefold pastoring” and striving to practice it can the family members grow healthily and together, reaching the full stature of Christ.

Persecution, Trial, and Unshaken Faith

At the end of the letter, he expresses his longing for each brother and sister and urges everyone to pray for and remember each other.

Pastor Zhou Songlin and Elder Ding Zhongfu were arrested on November 30, 2023, due to their faith and subsequently charged with “fraud.”

The first pre-trial meeting was held on July 31, 2024, at the Shushan District People’s Court in Hefei. During that meeting, the defense lawyer pointed out that the prosecutor had not fulfilled their duties, leading to many problems with the indictment letter, causing the prosecutor to be speechless and the meeting to be adjourned early.

The second pre-trial meeting was held on the morning of October 15, 2024. Pastor Zhou and Elder Ding smiled at their families and brothers and sisters through the window. The meeting started at 9 a.m. and lasted until nearly 6 p.m. Ten of the twelve scheduled topics were discussed, with the remaining two postponed to the trial. Despite being in prison, Pastor Zhou continues to shepherd Christ’s flock, demonstrating the church’s precious tradition and his loyalty to God’s calling as a servant leader.

(Reported by Lemon, a special correspondent for ChinaAid)